WEBVTT THROUGH THEIR CAREERS. A CROWD GATHERED TODAY IN THE ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS, TO REMEMBER JAMES BOYD. KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER LAURA THOREN WAS THERE - TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE GIVING A "VOICE" TO THE HOMELESS MAN. SHE JOINS US LIVE. DOUG - THIS IS WHERE THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL STARTED, BEFORE PEOPLE WALKED UP INTO THE FOOTHILLS TO THE SPOT WHERE JAMES BOYD WAS SHOT BY ALBUQUERQUE POLICE. BUT THEY WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES HERE--FIRE OFFICIALS AND POLICE WERE ON STANDBY FOR THIS EVENT - BUT NOT OUT OF CONCERN FOR VIOLENCE. ON A BLUSTERY AFTERNOON, DOZENS WALKED THIS ALBUQUERQUE HILLSIDE... TO HOLD A VIGIL FOR JAMES BOYD. homelessness is not a crime. I believe james was acting in survival. AT THIS SPOT - BOYD WAS CONFRONTED BY POLICE FOR CAMPING ILLEGALLY. 3 HOURS INTO THE STANDOFF, BOYD WAS SHOT BY OFFICERS, WHO SAY HE HAD BRANDISHED KNIVES. HE LATER DIED AT UNM HOSPITAL. AT WEDNESDAY'S CEREMONY, THIS WOMAN TOLD US SHE WAS WALKING TO REFORM HOW NEW MEXICO HANDLES PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS. Because I have a son that's schizophrenic. That's why. And this could've been my son. THIS MAN CALLED FOR A CHANGE IN THE WAY SOCIETY USES FORCE. "We need to change this system that we're living in." NO POLICE OFFICERS WERE PRESENT AT THE PROCESSION - BUT THE ALBUQUERQUE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS OFF IN THE DISTANCE. THE COMBINATION OF A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, HIGH WINDS AND DRY GRASS MEANT BRUSH FIRES WERE A REAL THREAT. BUT THERE WERE NO FLAMES, OR HOT TEMPERS LIKE SOME PREVIOUS PROTESTS... SOUND OF THE CONCH SHELL JUST A QUIET CROWD ASKING FOR PEACE...AND CHANGE. I think it's already begun. The change for him has already begun. THERE WAS ONE MAN HERE WHO TOLD ME OFF CAMERA HE WANTED TO VISIBLY BE PRESENT TO SAY HE SUPPORTED THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE SAID HE HASN'T LOST RESPECT FOR THEM - AND THEY'RE HERE TO HELP AND PROTECT PEOPLE. HE WISHES THAT PEOPLE WOULD HOLD PROCESSIONS -LIKE THE ONE TODAY - FOR APD. LIVE IN THE FOOTHILLS LAURA THOREN KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO POLICE PRESENCE ON SITE, ACTION 7 NEWS WAS TOLD POLICE WERE ON STANDBY,